Replaceable fan module for electrical device

Abstract

A fan module that includes a fan housing and a fan. The fan housing includes a first panel, a second panel, and a wall extending from the first panel to the second panel to define a space that extends along the wall, the first panel, and the second panel from a first end of the wall to a second end, opposite the first end, of the wall. The fan is configured to be disposed in the space, and a fastener is configured to extend through the housing, the fan, and an electrical device to couple the fan housing, the fan, and the electrical device to one another.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus comprising:
 a first panel;   a second panel offset from the first panel to define a space therebetween;   a wall extending from the first panel to the second panel, such that the space extends along the wall, the first panel, and the second panel from a first end of the wall to a second end, opposite the first end, of the wall; and   a fan configured to be disposed in the space between the first panel and the second panel.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the space extends between the first panel and the second panel through a first side of the first panel and of the second panel and through a second side, opposite the first side, of the first panel and of the second panel. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a control board configured to couple to the wall and control operation of the fan. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the wall comprises a mount extending from an inner surface of the wall into the space, and the control board comprises a board substrate configured to engage with the mount to couple the control board to the wall. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the mount comprises an extension extending further into the space, and the board substrate comprises an aperture configured to receive the extension to engage the board substrate with the mount. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the mount comprises an aperture, the board substrate comprises an additional aperture configured to align with the aperture of the mount, and the apparatus comprises a fastener configured to extend into the aperture of the mount and the additional aperture of the board substrate of the control board to engage the board substrate with the mount. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the fan comprises an electrical conductor configured to couple to the control board, and the control board is configured to transmit a signal to operate the fan via the electrical conductor. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the electrical conductor is coiled to define an additional space, and the control board comprises an interface configured to be positioned in the space to couple to the electrical conductor. 
     
     
         9 . A system comprising:
 an electrical device comprising an enclosure, wherein the enclosure defines an interior, and the enclosure comprises an external surface facing away from the interior; and   a fan module comprising:
 a housing defining a space; 
 a fan positioned in the space of the housing and configured to direct air through the enclosure of the electrical device; and 
 a fastener configured to extend through the housing, the fan, and the external surface of the enclosure to mount the fan module onto the electrical device. 
   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the external surface comprises an electrical interface electrically coupled to an electrical component positioned within the interior of the enclosure, and the fan module comprises a control board positioned in the space of the housing and configured to engage with the electrical interface to electrically couple to the electrical component. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the housing comprises a first panel and a second panel offset from one another to define the space, each of the first panel and the second panel comprises an aperture, the fan comprises an additional aperture, the external surface comprises a hole, and the fastener is configured to extend through the aperture of the first panel and of the second panel, the additional aperture of the fan, and the hole of the external surface to extend through the housing, the fan, and the external surface of the enclosure. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the external surface comprises an opening, the fan is configured to direct air through the enclosure via the opening, and the enclosure of the electrical device comprises a cover positioned in the opening and configured to abut the housing of the fan module to block extension of the housing into the electrical device. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the fan comprises a first aperture and a second aperture, the housing comprises a pin configured to extend into the first aperture to couple the fan to the housing, and the fastener is configured to extend through the second aperture of the fan to mount the fan module onto the electrical device. 
     
     
         14 . An apparatus comprising:
 a housing comprising a first panel and a second panel cooperatively defining a space therebetween, wherein the first panel comprises a pin extending into the space;   a fan configured to be positioned within the space of the housing, wherein the fan comprises a first aperture and a second aperture, and the first aperture is configured to receive the pin of the first panel; and   a fastener configured to extend through the second aperture of the fan to couple the fan and the housing to one another.   
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , further comprising a control board configured to be positioned within the space of the housing and control operation of the fan. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the housing comprises a wall extending from the first panel to the second panel and a plurality of mounts extending from an inner surface of the wall into the space, the control board comprises a board substrate and an interface coupled to the board substrate, the board substrate is configured to couple to the plurality of mounts, and the interface is configured to be positioned between the plurality of mounts and between the board substrate and the inner surface of the wall. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the housing comprises cover portions extending from the wall and over the control board. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the fan is configured to abut a respective edge of the cover portions such that the first panel, the second panel, the inner surface of the wall, the cover portions, and the fan cooperatively surround the control board. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the fan comprises an electrical conductor configured to extend around the board substrate and between the wall and the board substrate to couple to the interface, and the control board is configured to control operation of the fan via the electrical conductor. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the housing comprises a wall coupling the first panel and the second panel to one another, the wall extends along a first side of the first panel and of the second panel, and the space extends through a second side, opposite the first side, of the first panel and of the second panel.